What Is An Energy Efficient Summer Thermostat Setting

Raise your hands if your utility bills have gone way up this summer.  With all of the 90 degree days we have been experiencing in Southeastern Michigan, many of us have been cranking the AC.  It is so tempting to turn the thermostat way down when it is hot out, but in actuality that won’t make your home cool down any faster, and it will end up making you spend more money.

According to the US Department of Energy, 78 degrees is an energy efficient summer thermostat setting for when you are home and looking for some cool relief.  They recommend that you keep your home at a much warmer temperature when it is empty. “The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be” (Energy.gov).  Often at night we tend to like the temperature to be a cooler, but don’t worry too much about turning the temperature down then because the air conditioner does not have to work as hard to cool down your home at night when the sun is not hitting it and it is cooler outside.

You can manually make adjustments to your home’s thermostat when you are leaving the house or coming home, but setting up a program with a programmable thermostat means that you will never have to worry about forgetting and your home will already be nice and cool for you when you return.

Remember that humidity plays a big part in making your feel warm during the summer months.  Try to keep humidity to a minimum through dehumidifiers and exhaust fans in order to feel cool without needing to turn the thermostat way down.

When the weather is hot you do not need to keep the air conditioner off entirely in order to save money, simply choose an energy efficient summer thermostat setting.  For more information about different types of thermostats or how to save energy, contact FLAME!